The World Poker Tour crowned a new champion during their latest stop in Hollywood, Florida at the 2023 WPT Seminole Rock N Roll Poker Open. When the dust settled, Istvan Briski from Hungary outlasted 1,447 runners to win the $3,500 Main Event for a score worth $647,300. Darryll Fish missed out on another title when he busted in sixth place.
Ship it to Hungary. The World Poker Tour completed its penultimate event during their latest stop in south Florida. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood hosted the annual Rock N Roll Poker Open and the Main Event coincided with a WPT-sanctioned event.
This year's WPT Seminole Rock N Roll Poker Open Main Event had a $3,500 buy-in and attracted 1,447 runners. The top 181 places got a cut of the $4.63 million prize pool, with most of the cheesecake set aside to the champion.
Luke Graham bubbled the final table in seventh place. Istvan Briski from Hungary bagged the chip lead at the end of Day 4, and he headed into the final table with a tick under 24M. Sandy Sanchez was second in chips with 75M, followed by Fred Goldberg with 13.3M and Rayan Chamas from Quebec, Canada with 11M. The two short stacks were former WPT champ Darryll Fish with 4.6M and Matt Bond with 4.3M. Fish binked the 2018 Lucky Hearts Poker Open and was seeking a second WPT title.
Goldberg was the lone WSOP bracelet winner at the final table. He's most known for a deep run at the 2006 WSOP Man Event when he bubbled the final table that was eventually won by Jamie Gold.
It took 33 ands before the first player hit the rail. In a battle of the blinds, Darryll Fish made a move with 
but Briski wke up with 
in the big blind. Fish turned two pair but Briski flopped a set of Aces to drag the pot. For a sixth-place finish, Fish banked $157,800.
On Hand #40, Matt Bond said farewell. The shortest stack at the table moved all-in with 
and Fred Goldberg ambushed him with pocket Jacks from the small blind. Bond picked up a gutshot straight draw on the turn, but failed to improve on the river. Bond banked $206,900 for a fifth-place finish.
With four to go, Goldberg seized the chip lead after he won a post against Briski. That would be the high-water mark for Goldberg, who would bust two hours later when he jousted with Briski once again.
Goldberg made a final stand on Hand #89 with 
against Briski's 
. Briski flopped a set of Jacks, which held up. Goldberg busted out in fourth place, which paid out $274,000.
Three-handed lasted 16 hands before Sandy Sanchez met his fate on Hand #106. Rayan Chamas went to battle with pocket nines against Sanchez's pocket fives. Neither player improved and Chamas dragged the pot. Sanchez was picked off in third place, which paid out $366,500.
Chamas and Briski were the final two players remaining. Chamas held the chip lead -- 41.5M to 30.9M -- but their heads-up battle went quick and lasted a mere 18 hands.
Briski doubled up with trip Jacks and surged ahead nearly 60M to 11.5M. On Hand #120, Chamas made a valiant final stand.
Chamas moved all-in with 
and Briski accepted the challenge with 
. The board ran out 
. Briski dragged the pot with Queen-high. Chamas failed to improve and he was knocked out in second place.
Chamas banked $600,000 for a runner-up finish. Not too shabby, eh?
Meanwhile, Briski earned a first-place payday worth $647,300.
Among the notables who went deep and cashed at the WPT Seminole Rock N Roll Poker Open included... Kyle Julius, Chad Eveslage, Alessio Isaia, Niko Koop, Anthony Zinno, Jerry Wong, Yuval Bronshtein, Brian Altman, Chance Kornuth, Adam Hendrix, Alex Foxen, Norbert Szecsi, Kenny Hallaert, Olga Iermolcheva, Steve Buckner, Craig Varnell, Asher Conniff, Christian Harder, Daniel Smiljkovic, Stephen Song, Erkut Yilmaz, and Jesse Lonis.
Moving on... all eyes will be on Las Vegas in the upcoming week with the start of the epic WPT World Championship festival at the Wynn Las Vegas.
2023 WPT Seminole Rock N Roll Poker Open
Buy-In: $3,500
Entrants: 1,447
Prize Pool: $4,630,400
Payouts: 181
Final Table Results:
1. Istvan Briski $647,300
2. Rayan Chamas $600,000
3. Sandy Sanchez $366,500
4. Fred Goldberg $274,000
5. Matt Bond $206,900
6. Darryll Fish $157,800
